Main menu

Toyota has lodged entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship. It's likely the manufacturer will race its TS030 in some of the races.

Toyota registers for FIA World Endurance Championship

February 1, 2012

Share

Facebook

Tweet

Pinterest

Email

Toyota has registered for the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship in the wake of Peugeot's pullout from the series last month.

The Japanese manufacturer has lodged an entry for the championship rather than contesting the races of its part-season program on an invitational basis. This means it will be considered a full-time entrant, which gives WEC promoter, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, the minimum of two manufacturers competing in LMP1 as required under the terms of its agreement with the FIA. In reality, Toyota will remain a part-time contender.

A statement from Toyota said, “It was originally planned [that the company would] enter only selected races, which would have fallen short of the number required to be considered a full-time entrant. Due to the unexpected changes faced by the WEC, that plan has been revised.”

However, the move should not be regarded as a commitment by Toyota to contest the full championship with its TS030 hybrid, though it appears that there could be an expansion from the two or three races around the 24 Hours of Le Mans planned originally.

Toyota is so far only committed to fielding one car at the Spa-Francorchamps WEC round in May, and two cars for Le Mans in June. Also, an entry at the Japanese round at the Toyota-owned Fuji circuit is almost certain.

A spokesman for Toyota Motorsport GmbH, which is masterminding the TS030 program, said, “There is a clear limitation on what we can do budget-wise and resource-wise.”